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Early Comes the Day
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Fri Apr 25 20:03:01 2008 UTC
The early light of a new dawn grows stronger while the aurora fades into
memory as seen from our Twelve-Mile Summit camp March 29, 2008 about 80
miles northeast of Fairbanks. I retired to my sleeping bag for a few
short hours and woke to a blazing sun. Our little windbreak had turned
into a great reflector and over our morning coffee we soon realized that
we would surely fry in the intensified sunlight if we stayed too long.
It was time to go so after packing our strung-out gear we started our
three-day journey back to Homer. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night
Trax Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit:
www.auroradude.com
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Short Break
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Fri Apr 25 19:41:01 2008 UTC
Since I was up all night and mostly on my feet, I decided to take a
short break and if you look closely, you will see my ghosted image
sitting on the cooler at right for part of this exposure. At first, I
thought it was the aurora gathering for another wave of activity but
soon enough I realized it was the light of the dawn approaching at our
camp on Twelve-Mile Summit. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax
Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit:
www.auroradude.com
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Now We're Talking!
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Apr 15 22:09:01 2008 UTC
The aurora started out slowly tonight but it did not disappoint. Here is
a shot during the main substorm that came in the early hours of March
29, 2008 as seen above our camp at Twelve-Mile Summit about 80 miles out
of Fairbanks. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography
Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Wood is Good
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Apr 15 21:46:01 2008 UTC
Wind was a definate a factor while camping on this March 28, 2008
evening at Twelve-Mile Summit. We took advantage of a snow berm and
readily availible blocks of snow to construct a crude shelter. Luckily,
one of us was smart enough to include a large bow saw and axe in our
gear so we stopped every day, while traveling, to replenish our supply
of wood. It was a good thing too because there was no wood to be had up
here above the tree line. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax
Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit:
www.auroradude.com
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Wind and the Willow
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Apr 15 21:05:01 2008 UTC
Twelve-Mile Summit, in the White Mountains about 80 miles NE of
Fairbanks, can be a harsh place. The wind blows more than not and I have
turned back from this place several times due to blowing and drifting
snow. It is above the treeline and except for the tundra, there is
little vegetation here. These wind-shaped willows, photographed on March
29, 2008, were the only living thing around taller than a foot or so.
They had found refuge and a chance to start their slow, stunted growth
where a buldozed blade had cut a wayside at the summit. The wind was
pretty strong at sunset but had died down enough to leave the branches
still during this 30-second shot with the northern lights blazing
behind. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact
at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Ribbon of Delight
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Apr 8 20:20:01 2008 UTC
Time had been passing quickly on this March 27-28, 2008 night of auroral
activity and I really had completely lost track of it. But when I
started seeing tall rays of violet light in the northeast, I knew that
night would soon give in to dawn. It is the sun's direct light acting on
the aurora that can coax nitrogen molocules, high in the atmosphere, to
produce beautiful shades of blue and violet in a process known as
resonance scattering. This usually takes place during twilight hours
while the Earth is in the shadow of night but the aurora is reaching up
into sunlight at altitudes of up to 1000 km. (about 600 miles into
space). This is the highest type of aurora measured. I used a 6x7 cm.
medium format camera with a 38mm wide angle lens for this image along
the Chena River east of Fairbanks. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson
Night Trax Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit:
www.auroradude.com
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Chasing Rabbits
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Apr 8 22:17:01 2008 UTC
Early on in our week-long aurora expedition, my brother had expressed
his desire to bag a snow-shoe hare for the stew pot. He had even
prepared a special sauce in anticipation. We saw many, many tracks day
after day but never had the opportunity to get one of these "waskwy
wabbits". Now, as if to tease us, here is a giant rabbit in the sky
leaping above the spruce along the Chena River on the early morning of
March 28, 2008. The sauce had frozen on the first night out and had
remained that way for the duration of the outing. Copyright (c) Dennis
C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net
or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Bright Band with Nitrogen Fringe
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Apr 8 17:55:01 2008 UTC
On the night of March 27-28 a diffuse band rapidly grows brighter and
begins to display color on its bottom edge. This is an indication that
higher energy particles are penetrating the atmosphere to lower levels
where nitrogen molocules are coaxed into producing reddish and purplish
emissions. The common green aurora is created by the excitation of
oxygen atoms at altitudes ranging from about 100 to 150 km. (60 to 90
miles). This colorful "nitrogen fringing" takes place as low as about
70km. (43 miles). This is as close to the ground as the aurora ever
gets. I used a 6x7 cm. medium format camera with a 75mm lens to record
the northwestern sky from the Chena River east of Fairbanks. Copyright
(c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradudee.com
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Bright Loop Dark Night
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Mon Apr 7 09:40:01 2008 UTC
March 27-28, 2008 Chena River, Alaska
A bright loop appears over the spruce trees in the north bringing light
to a dark night. Snow-shoe tracks can be see in the dim light cutting
across a frozen pond. I used a home-bnuilt 6x7cm. medium-format camera
with a 38mm wide-angle lens and Kodak E100G film. Copyright (c) Dennis
C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net
or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Shadows
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Mon Apr 7 09:18:01 2008 UTC
As the camp fire was dying down the aurora began to intensify. It was
easily casting shadows on the snow during this moonless night of March
27-28, 2008 along the Chena River east of Fairbanks. This display became
so bright that I didn't even notice my headlamp was still on throwing
its red light onto the foreground. The sky became bright enough that
snipes had taken to the air with their strange whooing noises that they
make in flight, a ritual usually saved for the afternoon or evening
twilight. An owl hooted from a nearby tree. We sat in silence. Copyright
(c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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No Batteries Required
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Sat Apr 5 19:08:01 2008 UTC
After several nights out, I noticed that the batteries on my (red)
headlamp were growing weak but I was prepared. I had stuffed extras into
one of my coat pockets just in case. It had been easy walking on the
frozen tundra and I had counted 300 steps out from camp as I didn't want
to loose my way in the dark. Then, it happened. The batteries in my
headlamp went completely dead. It was dark but I didn't panic. After
all, I had fresh batteries. So I spread the legs of my tripod and set my
camera down. Then I took a seat on the tundra and began to take my
headlamp apart carefully so as to not loose the parts in the dark. I
removed the three batteries and took mental note of their orientation so
that I could get the replacements back in the proper order. I then felt
in my pocket for the fresh batteries and that's when I had a moment of
realization: They were the wrong size! But wait, what is that bright
light shining behind me? I turned and saw the silent aurora gathering
strength to light up the night. It was very diffuse but had become super
bright and it was bathing all the snow and ice in its cool green light.
I didn't need the batteries after all! I could see perfectly well. This
image is taken during the bright display from Twelve-Mile Summit about
80 miles northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska on the early morning of March
28, 2008. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography
Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Fisheye View of a Proton Arc
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Thu Apr 3 23:01:01 2008 UTC
This shot was taken from the Denali Highway outside of Cantwell, Aalska
on March 25, 2008 using an all-sky circular fisheye lens. The camera is
pointed straight up and records everything from horizon to horizon.
North is at the bottom left while east is at bottom right. The Fuji
Velvia 100F film records a proton arc overhead vividly. Visually the
reddish color was just noticable in comparison to the green aurora seen
filling the northern horizon of the image. Copyright (c) Dennis C.
Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or
visit: www.auroradude.com
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Hercules Rising
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Thu Apr 3 20:13:01 2008 UTC
It had been a slow aurora season, between clouds and lack of activity
but I was determined to get some shots before the dark nights were
completely gone for the high north latitudes. This was the third night
out after a snow storm and clouds on the first two. Tonight we had found
ourselves under perfectly clear skies camped off the Denali Highway near
Cantwell, Alaska. There had been a little activity early on and a nice
proton arc to entertain but the aurora never arrived in full force.
Still, I had to get something and spent the entire night waiting fo my
chance. If this was to be the only shot I would still have been happy.
It is taken toward the northeast during the wee hours of March 26, 2008
Using a 6x9 cm medium format camera with a 98mm lens. The constellation
Hurcules is at right and the bright star Vega at left. (c) Copyright
Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Under the Rainbow
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Wed Apr 2 22:50:01 2008 UTC
The aurora was growing so intense that it was leaving shadows on the
snow during an outing on the Chena River east of Fairbanks, Alaska on
this night of March 26-27, 2008. It was impossible to hold still. There
were so many things going on in all parts of the sky at one time. This
arc in the northwest had suddenly brightened and formed many rays with
purplish undersides that indicated very energetic particles were now
penetrating the Earth's atmosphere to lower levels than the most common
green type of aurora. I used a 6x9 cm. medium format camera and a 50mm
wide-angle lens to record the spectacular sight above our campsite.
Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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South
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Wed Apr 2 19:41:01 2008 UTC
This is a fisheye view looking roughly east to west and overhead towards
the south on the night of March 26-27, 2008 from the Chena River east of
Fairbanks. The aurora had formed multiple arcs that filled the sky even
to the southern horizon. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax
Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit:
www.auroradude.com
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North
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Wed Apr 2 19:01:01 2008 UTC
This image is taken with a 180-degree circular fisheye lens and is
looking roughly north from along the Chena River east of Fairbanks. It
spans from west to east and to overhead. The aurora gathered strength as
darkness set in on the night of March 26-27, 2008 but became rather
diffuse at times. Still, it was enough to light up the snow on this
moonless night. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography
Contact at: auroraddude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Fisheye Sky March 26-27, 2008
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Wed Apr 2 08:54:01 2008 UTC
This is a circular fisheye view that shows the entire sky during a night
filled with activity. I pointed the camera straight up and its
ultra-wide angle lens was able to capture it all, from horizon to
horizon. This image has south roughly towards the bottom and is taken
from East of Fairbanks, Alaska. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night
Trax Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit:
www.auroradude.com
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Pleasantly Surprised
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Wed Apr 2 08:20:01 2008 UTC
Maybe its because the auroral activity has been slow this last year or
so or maybe its because I have too many cameras to keep track of or both
but I was finally able to finish a couple rolls of film that had been
kicking around for all of this last year and was pleasantly surprised to
find this image. It was taken on March 24, 2007 from the beach at Deep
Creek, Alaska along the frozen shore of Cook Inlet. The incredible
color comes from high energy particles striking nitrogen molocules lower
in the atmosphere than the green auroras. Copyright (c) Dennis C.
Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or
visit: www.auroradude.com
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Proton Arc March 25-26, 2008
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Wed Apr 2 08:20:01 2008 UTC
This image is a circular fish-eye view of the entire sky taken on the
night of March 25-26, 2008 from near Cantwell, Alaska. The red feature
is a proton arc. It was easily visible for a couple hours as it hung
overhead spanning the sky from west east and slowly moving southward
before fading away. I used a 4x5 camera equipped with a 30mm lens to
achieve the effect. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax
Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit:
www.auroradude.com
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A Fire Under the Lights
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Apr 1 23:00:01 2008 UTC
A crackling fire can really add to the aurora experience. It warms the
heart and the nose during chilly nights. I was glad to have it tonight
as the aurora was so active that I had my gloves off as much as I had
them on while shuffling cameras and changing film. Still, I could feel
the sting of a little frostbite on the fingers the next day from
handling cold metal with bare hands. This image is looking eastward from
the Chena River on March 26, 2008 during evening twilight. Copyright (c)
Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Into the Night
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Apr 1 22:30:01 2008 UTC
A few stars twinkle against the deepening twilight as the colors of a
fading sunset linger to contrast the brightening green of an early
aurora. This shot is facing westward from along the Chena River east of
Fairbanks, Alaska and was acquired using a 6x7 medium format camera with
a 38mm wide-angle lens and Fuji Provia 100F film. Copyright (c) Dennis
C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net
or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Above the Twilight
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Apr 1 21:12:01 2008 UTC
A bright veil is seen glowing above the lingering twilight in the west
as high clouds still catch a little color from the fading sunset. This
image is taken from east of Fairbanks, Alaska along the Chena River on
the evening of March 26, 2008 using a home-built 6x7 medium format
camera and Fuji Provia 100F film.
Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Camping Under the Aurora
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Apr 1 19:50:01 2008 UTC
There is nothing like a warm fire and the northern lights. Here, the
ghost of a camper is seen preparing the evening meal along the Chena
River east of Fairbanks, Alaska on March 26, 2008. I had the call to
dinner just as the aurora intensified but I didn't want to miss out on
the hot meal so I stuffed the pepperoni sandwich into my mouth and shot
away. I chewed during the exposures and held it in my mouth while I made
adjustments and advanced the film. It wasn't easy but I'll always
remember it.
Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Flickering Lights Animation February 10, 2008
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Feb 12 21:00:01 2008 UTC
Here is a string of 25 more frames captured on February 10, 2008. The
aurora had entered a flickering, pulsating stage after the main substorm
and remained this way for most of the rest of the night.Copyright (c)
Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Animated Aurora February 10, 2008
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Sun Feb 10 20:02:01 2008 UTC
Here's a short animation from the night of February 9-10 from near
Homer, Alaska. Individual images were taken using a Cannon S5IS at ISO
400 f2.8 and 8 second exposures and then stacked in Photoshop to create
an animated GIFF file. Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax
Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit:
www.auroradude.com
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Green Flash
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Thu Feb 7 03:10:01 2008 UTC
Just as the sun was setting, the last visible part turned a brilliant
green for just a moment. I didn't quite catch the moment but this image
is an instant before and shows the green starting. I used a little
digital camera at the eyepiece of 11x80 binoculars from near Homer,
Alaska looking towards Katmai about 100 miles to the southwest.
Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax PHotography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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Augustine on Groundhog Day
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Tue Feb 5 22:11:01 2008 UTC
It's a beautiful crisp and clear day on February 6, 2008 but all the
groundhogs are deep in hibernation. If they were out they certainly
would see their shadow. I took advantage of the clear air to image Mount
St. Augustine 75 miles SW of Homer, Alaska. Steam can still be seen at
the summit two years after its last eruption. Copyright (c) Dennis C.
Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net or
vvisit: www.auroradude.com
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Animated Aurora February 3, 2008
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Mon Feb 4 23:22:01 2008 UTC
Here is a short clip of auroral activity as seen from near Homer, Alaska
on February 3, 2008. It is a one hour sequence from 1:30 a.m. to 2:30
a.m. local time and is compressed into just a few seconds. I used my
wife's new digital camera to take over 50 images at ISO 800 15 seconds
at f/2.7 and then created a giff animation in Photoshop. Copyright (c)
Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit: www.auroradude.com
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"SEASONAL GREETINGS"
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Fri Dec 21 09:18:01 2007 UTC
Greetings to the Planet Earth from Planet Damitol and from our way cool
friends on the hill. Thank you for the electro-navigational light rays
that power our ships. Plese can you tell us now where that guy in the
funny red hat has gone? We must understand his superior propulsion unit.
Nyeet! Nyeeet! I take all responsibility for these visitors. -
Dennis Anderson contact at: auroradude@acsalaska.net
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"Big Country, Big Camera"
Submitted by:
Dennis Anderson at Sat Dec 1 01:41:01 2007 UTC
When traveling Aalska one word always comes to mind..."BIG". It just
seems to go on and on. I know I'll never see it all in two life times.
There is a snow machine trail leding into the distance. Did it go
another mile? Ten? A Hundred? Maybe even a thousand Miles or more. Such
is the vastness of the land before you. The image seen here represents
"first light" for a home-built 4x5 large format camera. It was a bright
February night in 2002 near Meiers Lake just south of the Central Alaska
Range. Using large film seems to be the only way to start to capture a
sense of this vastness.
Copyright (c) Dennis C. Anderson Night Trax Photography Contact at:
auroradude@acsalaska.net or visit www.auroradude.com
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